Chapter 131 Want to drive her away (ask for monthly ticket)
Zuo Caitie glared at him. Seeing a noble lady standing next to him, the supervisor understood what he meant. He hid the whip in his hand behind his back, bowed his head and left immediately.
This little disturbance did not affect Zhao Yuanxi's entry.
However, Zhao Yuanxi couldn't help but remind them, "Although they are guilty, they are not sentenced to death. If you act without scruples and let them die in vain, how will you explain it then?"
"I acknowledge my guilt. Your Majesty, rest assured, I will discipline my subordinates properly and will not harm their lives."
You Caitie's humble attitude did not make Zhao Yuanxi happy at all.
Now that she had said what she needed to say, if she rashly interfered in the affairs here, she would be the one breaking the rules first.
"Take me to the iron furnace first!" Zhao Yuanxi said lightly.
You Caitie raised his hand and gestured, "Yes, Queen Mother, please!"
Although the ground of the iron smelter was leveled, the ore carts coming and going would always drop some stones, resulting in all kinds of small stones on the ground.
Zhao Yuanxi was walking on the broken stones and could not walk fast enough. Jang Geum was accompanying her on the right and reached out to help her.
Zhao Yuanxi noticed the mocking look in Caitieling's eyes, and his eyes couldn't help but turn cold.
"You Caitie, how long have you been here?"
You Caitie smiled and said, "I have been here since the ironworks opened. If the Queen Mother has anything you want to ask, I can tell you a thing or two."
When they arrived at the gate of the iron smelting workshop, You Caitie just gave a look and the guards at the gate let them in. The workers inside were extremely respectful.
Although he is a miner, he acts like the king of the mountain here.
"This is the current Empress Dowager. Why don't you come and pay your respects to her!" You Caitie suddenly spoke with a proud look on his face.
The crowd began to riot, and more and more people gathered around. Their eyes were not very respectful at all, and some people's eyes could even be described as vicious.
Jang Geum and Zhang Han stood in front of Zhao Yuanxi, their faces full of vigilance.
Those who were assigned to the mines had committed serious crimes. Some of them might be innocent, but these people usually didn't live long.
It was not until the nearby supervisor cracked his whip that the prisoners' eyes suddenly became clear and they fell to their knees.
You Cai Tiedao said, "It is because I failed to discipline my children and disturbed the Queen Mother."
Zhao Yuanxi had to admit that she was a little scared just now. Dozens or even hundreds of ragged men surrounding her would scare anyone.
Resisting the urge to retreat, Zhao Yuanxi looked at You Caitie with a cold face.
He is trying to intimidate himself!
After being in this world for so long, this was the first time that Zhao Yuanxi felt provoked and threatened.
Although Ying Zheng also had a bad attitude, that was just because of his bad character and he didn't really have any ill will towards him. However, Zhao Yuanxi felt deep malice from this petty official.
He doesn't want to stay here!
Zhao Yuanxi seems to have no temper on weekdays, but she is also very stubborn. If someone doesn't want her to do something, she will insist on getting it done.
"You are indeed a poor disciplinarian. If you knew I was coming here, you should have taught them what the rules are first!" Zhao Yuanxi said coldly.
You Caitie didn't expect the Queen Mother to be so disrespectful to him. A sinister look flashed across his face, but he immediately put on a smile and said, "I know my crime. I will drive them out right away."
At his command, the prisoners followed the supervisors and left.
The people around were cleared out.
Zhao Yuanxi's expression didn't look much better.
Those people had ferocious looks on their faces just now, but as soon as You Caitie spoke, they all became as obedient as quails, so that ferocious look was deliberately made for her to see.
You Caitie's control over this place was obviously more powerful than she had imagined.
An official's ability to firmly control those under his jurisdiction is a reflection of his ability. If Zhao Yuanxi had not thought there was anything wrong with it before, but now he controls the people under his jurisdiction and threatens and intimidates her, then he is worthy of death.
Zhao Yuanxi felt that the person in front of him was not a Qin official, but a local bully.
Is he afraid that I will shake his position, so he wants to expel me?
"Since the king has handed this place over to me, I will have to trouble Caitie to cooperate with me from now on." Zhao Yuanxi chuckled.
"Of course, whatever the Queen Mother needs, I will do my best to find it for you."
Zhao Yuanxi asked again, "How many calcining furnaces are there here? How many iron ingots can be produced every day?"
"Six in total, producing about 300 shi of iron per day."
Three hundred shi is about one ton a day, which is not a very high output.
“How many workers are there here?”
"One hundred and twenty-eight craftsmen, ten supervisors, and more than thirty soldiers stationed there."
After Zhao Yuanxi understood the basic situation, he asked the two iron mining officers to leave. Except for an old man guarding the furnace, there was no one else around.
The old man's fingers were burned beyond recognition and one of his eyes was blind. His face looked particularly terrifying against the backdrop of the firelight.
Zhao Yuanxi walked up to him and asked, "What's your name?"
The old man looked up blankly, looked at her without saying a word, and only pointed at his ears and mouth.
He is deaf and dumb!
Zhang Han stepped forward to examine him and nodded to Zhao Yuanxi, "Queen Dowager, his ears were severely injured and his tongue was cut off."
Zhao Yuanxi looked solemn. It was no wonder that she was overthinking. Everything here made her feel uncomfortable.
"What do you think of that right-hand iron?"
"Evil official." Zhang Han commented.
He had seen many officials. In some places, there were always some people who thought they were the masters of the place and acted recklessly.
It just so happens that these people often protect each other with other officials, and even the Qin law cannot control it.
Jang Geum frowned, "Queen Dowager, this place is not safe. That person is very hostile to you."
Although they brought a lot of guards today, they were guarding against bandits. Jang Geum was worried that the officials here might harm the Queen Mother.
"Don't worry! He wants to be the local king here, so he won't dare to attack me. At most, he will just scare me!"
Zhao Yuanxi didn't expect that when she came here to do an experiment, she would break into this "bandit's nest".
"Why do you think he doesn't want me to stay here? Logically, if I, the queen mother, come here and make something good, his iron mining order should be rewarded. What is the reason that he would rather give up this opportunity for promotion and find a way to make me leave?" Zhao Yuanxi asked suddenly.
Even if she didn't do anything, no one should risk offending the current empress dowager by doing such a thing!
It is obvious that cooperating with her will bring only benefits and no harm.
Zhao Yuanxi couldn't figure it out.
"Unless there is some secret here that cannot be known to outsiders." Zhang Han expressed the guess in everyone's mind.
Zhao Yuanxi looked around. It was just an ordinary iron smelting workshop, even simple. What shameful thing could there be?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
